Is it wrong for slimes to be in dungeons? (revised)

Chapter 32: Betrayal of Trust

Lily opened her mouth to respond face down towards the stone floors, "...horrible," She spat out with all the warmth of a lake frozen over by winter.

"Hmph," Zanis simply huffed at her answer and smirked. "It was a surprise really, to see you come back here all on your own before we even got the chance to say anything,"

"It wasn't difficult to figure out what you wanted..." she mumbled.

"No, I suppose not," He pushed his glasses upward on his face.

"Still Lily is confused...why bother with Lily? She isn't of any use to you,"

"Now now, I wouldn't say that, not at all," he smiled. "Just by the fact that you turned out to be alive and with the little Rookie meant we could take a good sum of money from the Apollo Familia to help in their harassment, with you as our excuse," Zanis laughed.

Lily glared at the man quietly.

"But aside from that you have no reason to keep Lily here..." She tried to argue. "In fact, it would've been better to prolong the time Lily was with Mr.Bell, as well as the time Mr. Bell was on the run and continually extort Apollo Familia for your services Lily thinks," She added.

"Ho~? Well, that's certainly an idea. Unfortunately, it's one that wouldn't last, and considering the half-wits of this Familia it wouldn't be long for Apollo to figure out what we are doing. Making an enemy out of them would simply be foolish. In comparison, the value you alone have is much greater."

Lily frowned at this. "Lily is useless to you," she stated firmly once more.

"Oh, I wouldn't say that at all...you're a unique type of magic is quite the catch I'd say."

Lily snapped her head up to finally face the man. "How did..." he had only told Mr. Bell Welf and Hestia about her magic, so how did he...

"Lord Soma informed me of it," he answered the unasked question.

Of course! Lily realized as he answered. The god who had read the excelia and granted her the magic in the first place. He would know...And Zanis being who he was could probably get Lord Soma to tell him just about anything.

He probably knew before she had even feigned her death.

He looked down at the shocked Lily who was still processing this.

"Just make sure...Arde, you can use this magic to turn into monsters yes?"

"...Monsters?" She asked curiously. "What would it mean if I could?"

"Oh nothing much..." he shrugged. "There's just a new project I could use your help with," he said.

Lily tilted her head showing her confusion.

"That is...luring monsters and capturing them to sell."

That's insane! Lily mocked him in her head. Not daring to say so out loud.

"Monsters don't have any value," Lily tried to argue, but Zanis simply smiled.

"That's where you're mistaken...Arde," He said his smile deepening into a wide grin full of greed and avarice.

"So that's why you did this? That's why he attacked Mr. Bell and captured me?"

"It's why I do anything at all," he said. His wicked grin grew and a spark of insanity shone in his eyes.

BAM! He slammed his foot against the metal bars of the cell. "Lord Soma's wine, women, money! I'll do anything to have it all!" he said, his true colors shining through his facade of intelligence. "Ah It's all so close I can taste it now," he licked his lips in satisfaction.